bonsaiTALK Community - View Single Post - Fertilizer

Doody,

Soil Doc puts it well about the chemicals and all. I am a big pusher of an all organic feeding for bonsai.
But, there is a difference that goes deeper than just speed of nitrogen delivery. It is soil health. The well fertilized and "miracle grown" bonsai pot of soil is salty, sterile, and used up in a year or so.
The same soil with an organic program is full of activity and beneficial insects and looks healthy. You can and need to change the top layer of soil each year and tidy up but you can stretch out soil replacing by a year or two.
I've experimented with this for 12 years now and am convinced. The Japanese have experimented for 800 years and have come to the same conclusion.

It is hard to resist the quick greening of the "miracles" and the slick advertising. No one is gonna make a quick buck by promoting Fish and oil dregs...

17-Aug-2002	#7
Bonsainut Carrier of Bonsai Fever Join Date: Oct-2001 Location: So-Cal, US of A Country: America The Beautiful USDA Zone: Zone 9-10 AHS Heat Zone: ? Posts: 1,833	Doody, Soil Doc puts it well about the chemicals and all. I am a big pusher of an all organic feeding for bonsai. But, there is a difference that goes deeper than just speed of nitrogen delivery. It is soil health. The well fertilized and "miracle grown" bonsai pot of soil is salty, sterile, and used up in a year or so. The same soil with an organic program is full of activity and beneficial insects and looks healthy. You can and need to change the top layer of soil each year and tidy up but you can stretch out soil replacing by a year or two. I've experimented with this for 12 years now and am convinced. The Japanese have experimented for 800 years and have come to the same conclusion. It is hard to resist the quick greening of the "miracles" and the slick advertising. No one is gonna make a quick buck by promoting Fish and oil dregs...